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Chavez Opposition Disintegrating
by Stephen Lendman
On October 7, voters get to choose Venezuela's next president. It's all over but the cheers, postmortems, and perhaps opposition planned disruptions.
Chavez remains overwhelmingly popular for good reason. He's a shoe in for reelection.
In modern times, no previous Venezuelan leader included popular interests on his agenda. Chavez prioritizes them. Why give up a good thing! Why return to the bad old days!
Vital social benefits include universal free healthcare and education, affordable housing, subsidized food, land reform, indigenous rights, and much more. Gasoline for a Chevrolet Suburban's 39-gallon tank costs $3.51. In Norway, it's $394.68. Why indeed sacrifice beneficial changes.
We have breached the first tipping point
John James
Two critical tipping points have been breached. This is the critical moment in an evolving system when feedback becomes strong enough to continue on its own without any further input. The tipping point is that moment when a gradual increase becomes unstoppable because the feedback maintains its own momentum. There is nowhere to go under these circumstances, and nothing can be done to prevent it continuing. It is the point when an everyday infection turns epidemic.
New York Times Promotes War on Syria
by Stephen Lendman
The Times isn't alone, but its view matters. It has global reach. It's true in articles, editorials, and op-eds.
The Times is out in front supporting US wars and others planned. Concerns aren't raised about constitutional or international law violations. Crimes of war, against humanity, mass slaughter and destruction are non-issues.
Imperial dominance, wealth, power and privilege alone matter. Throughout its history, its record reflects shame and contempt for humanity. Corporate interests are endorsed. So are imperial wars.
Popular concerns get short shrift. Unmet human needs, growing poverty, employment, hunger, homelessness, and despair aren't addressed properly if at all.
Terry Williams: A Life in the Balance
by Stephen Lendman
Human life is sacred. Throughout its history, US policy scored it. It shows horrifically in one war after another. It's no different at home at the federal, state, or local levels.
Policy makes human life cheap. Black and Brown people suffer most. Institutionalized racism denigrates them. In capital crime cases, most have virtually no chance, guilty or innocent. Officials don't care if they live or die.
America's death penalty is barbaric. It's the ultimate human rights violation. It's premeditated state-sponsored murder. No true democracy would tolerate it.
US-style justice is rigged to convict. Due process and judicial fairness get short shrift. America's unwanted haven't a chance. Innocent people get executed.
Drones: Instruments of State Terror
by Stephen Lendman
A new report jointly prepared by Stanford University's International Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Clinic (SU) and New York University School of Law's Global Justice Clinic (NYU) is titled "Living Under Drones."
Part one discusses strikes on rescuers, funerals, and other civilian targets. Part two examines surveillance, the effects of drones overhead, and how their use creates fear and distrust. Part three considers the economic and impoverishment hardships families and communities sustain.
Overall SU/NYU examines key aspects of the CIA's drone policy. It exposes facts political Washington and media scoundrels suppress.
The dominant narrative claims drone strikes are precise and effective. They involve "targeted killings." Terrorists are assassinated with "minimal downsides or collateral impacts." As a result, America is much safer.
Obama in New York
by Stephen Lendman
On September 25, Obama addressed the UN General Assembly. Duplicity, imperial arrogance, and belligerent were conspicuous.
He began discussing US ambassador Christopher Stevens. On September 11, he was killed in Benghazi, Libya. Obama inverted truth like he always does.
He claimed he went there last year to help Libyans "cope with violent conflict, care for the wounded, and craft a vision for the future in which the rights of all Libyans would be respected."
"And after the revolution, he supported the birth of a new democracy, as Libyans held elections, and built new institutions, and began to move forward after decades of dictatorship."
Fact check
Stevens was an imperial front man. He urged violent intervention. He supported NATO's killing machine throughout months of slaughter. He participated in Libya's destruction.
Atonement: Not in Israel's Vocabulary
by Stephen Lendman
Yom Kippur is considered the holiest of Jewish holidays. It occurs on the 10th day of the month of Tishrei (Hebrew year 5773).
September 17 marked the new year (Rosh HaShanah). Ten days of repentance began. They culminated on Yom Kippur.
It's traditionally observed by 25 hours of fasting, prayers for forgiveness, and abstaining from work, school, and physical pleasures.
Teaching Torture
By Michael Collins
Sometimes keeping up with our societal decline becomes a bit too much. For example:
SPRINGTOWN, Texas — Like many schools in Texas, “spare the rod and spoil the child” might be considered the motto at Springtown High School.
But when two teenage girls there reportedly suffered bruises after being paddled by male assistant principals, some parents complained. They weren’t upset about the punishment itself, but instead that the school violated the policy requiring an educator of the same sex as the student to dole out the paddling. Associated Press, September 24 2012
The school board for Sprigtown, Texas responded by expanding official policy to allow male administrators to paddle female students. There were no restrictions on prurient motives or sexual arousal by male administrators while administering the structured beatings. AP failed to report any serious questioning of the process save those by People Opposed to Paddling Students, a Texas-wide organization opposed to corporal punishment. Seventy-five percent of Texas school districts allow paddling as punishment, some for minor offenses up the line of disciplinary. (Image: The Faculty)
When "freedom of speech" translates into hate crime
Kourosh Ziabari
They see the offensive movie which has insulted one of the world's most ancient, venerated and popular religions in the light of their ambassador and other diplomatic staff being killed overseas. Of course such violence is not accepted, but the U.S. politicians and mass media have never paid due attention to the disgraceful and outrageous nature of a movie which portrays Islam a repressive religion and its holy prophet as a depraved and corrupt individual; a movie which has targeted the souls of 1.5 billion Muslims around the world with its heinous and appalling language.
"Innocence of Muslims" produced by a man who has been laying in ambush since the release of the 13-minute trailer of his movie on Youtube is a film awash with a throbbing tone and insulting portrayals. There has been a widespread controversy over the identity of the man behind the movie. Last Wednesday, the Associated Press published an interview with a man identified as an American-Israeli citizen named Sam Bacile who produced the movie with the donation of 100 Jewish sponsors. The same day, Wall Street Journal published an interview with Bacile and identified him as the writer and producer of the movie.
Agitate for Change
by Stephen Lendman
Sitting on the sidelines accomplishes nothing. Indifference isn't an option. Nothing important changes without public involvement and activism. "We the people" must show we mean it.
Doug Dowd is an economic historian, economist, and political activist. At age 94, he's slowed, but still active, vibrant and committed for long overdue change.
He's a radical economist in the best sense of the term. His academic career spanned six decades. He's still writing books and articles. He discusses cutting-edge economic, political and social issues.
His recently published book is titled "Inequality and the Global Economic Crisis
- class, political, racial, and gender-based inequality;
- big business and inequality;
- inequality worsened by consumerism and media manipulation;
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